If you're like most people, you probably don't check your credit report very often. You probably don't give it a second thought until there's something wrong – like when you apply for a mortgage and get denied.
That's why if there's one thing you should be checking for regularly, it's any mistakes or negative items that might be dragging down your credit score.
One common type of comment on credit reports that may be affecting your credit application is the note “consumer disputes after resolution.” But what is this exactly? And more importantly, can you remove it from your credit report?
Having comments like these can be frustrating and make it difficult to get a mortgage or other loan. Luckily, there are ways to remove this notation from your credit report.
We looked at official sources as well as forums to give you a detailed guide on how to resolve this issue.
Don’t skip any part because we’ll also give you a BONUS tip on how you can remove this comment from your credit report! You don’t want to miss this tip and be unsuccessful in your goal!
What Does “Consumer Disputes After Resolution” Mean on a Credit Report?
When you check your credit report, you may see a comment that says “consumer disputes after resolution.” You might be wondering what this means and how it will affect your ability to get loans in the future.
The phrase “consumer disputes after resolution” means that you have disputed an item on your credit report, and the dispute has been resolved.
In other words, you have claimed that an item on your credit report is inaccurate, and the credit reporting agency (CRA) has investigated your claim and found that it is accurate. Sometimes this comment may also appear as “dispute resolved customer disagrees”.
For example, you saw a negative item on your credit report from debt that you thought you have already paid off a few months ago. You disputed the debt, and the credit reporting agency investigated your claim.
However, upon investigation, the credit reporting agency found that the debt is indeed unpaid, and as a result, the negative item remains on your credit report.
In this case, the comment “consumer disputes after resolution” would be placed on your credit report to indicate that while the credit reporting agency believes that the issue has already been resolved, you have disputed it.
Some credit reports will also reflect the phrase “meets FCRA requirements” to indicate that the credit reporting agency has followed all of the necessary procedures in investigating your claim.
It's important to note that this phrase is different from “in dispute.” If you see “in disputes” on your credit report, it means that you have disputed an item but the dispute is still pending.
This is not as serious as “consumer disputes after the resolution,” which means the dispute has been resolved and you were not successful in removing the negative item from your credit report.
When Is the Statement “Consumer Disputes After Resolution” on the Credit Report Added?
The statement “consumer disputes after resolution” will reflect on a credit report only when the credit reporting agency finds out that the item you're disputing is, in fact, accurate.
When you file a dispute to a credit reporting agency like Equifax, Experian, or TransUnion, the law requires that they investigate your claim within 30 days.
During the investigation, the credit reporting agency will contact the company that reported the information to them and may ask for documentation to verify whether the info is accurate.
If the company provides proof of accuracy, then the statement “consumer disputes after resolution” will be added to your credit report. You should then expect to see this particular statement 30 to 45 days after filing a dispute.
How Does the Comment “Consumer Disputes After Resolution” Affect Your Credit Score?
Perhaps you're wondering: Will the wording “Consumer Disputes After Resolution” hurt my credit score? Why is my lender asking me to have this comment removed from my credit score? What can I do to remove it?
The phrase “consumer disputes after resolution” doesn't necessarily harm your credit score. However, it may still have an effect if you're looking to get a major loan, such as a mortgage.
But before we discuss that, we'll explain what happens to your credit score after filing a dispute and up to the point where you receive this comment in your credit report.
When you first file a dispute and an item is regarded as pending, your credit score may temporarily increase because that negative item is disregarded when calculating your score for the time being.
Depending on the result of the dispute, your score will be affected. Obviously, if the negative item is successfully removed from your credit report, then your score will go up.
On the other hand, if the negative item is confirmed to be accurate after the investigation, your score will revert back to what it was before you filed the dispute, or it may even go down a few points because now there's another hard inquiry on your report.
This means that the phrase “consumer disputes after resolution” shouldn't affect your credit score. That's because once the dispute is completed and the negative item is confirmed to be accurate, your credit score will have already been affected.
The phrase “consumer disputes after resolution” is simply a way for lenders to see that you've disputed an item on your credit report in the past.
Keep in mind, however, that if you're applying for a mortgage or a car loan, lenders may treat this remark negatively.
During a manual review, a lender may see this comment and be hesitant to give you the loan because it could be a sign that you're not diligent or responsible with your finances.
Some lenders might think that you're not diligent with your credit and that you've just been trying to get negative items removed from your report without actually addressing the underlying issue or getting enough proof that the items are inaccurate.
As a result, they may view you as a higher risk and either deny your loan or give you a higher interest rate.
In short, having the phrase “consumer disputes after resolution” on your credit report may make it harder for you to get approved for a loan, but it doesn't necessarily mean that you'll be automatically denied.
Can You Remove “Consumer Disputes After Resolution” When You See It in Your Credit Report?
Yes, it is possible to get these comments removed from your credit report. There are several ways to do this, but the most common is to contact the credit reporting agency and ask them to remove it because you're no longer disputing the accuracy of the information.
Telling them that you're no longer disputing the entry is important as this is what will prompt them to take action and remove the comment from your report.
Of course, you can continue to challenge the decision but if it has been going on for a while, it's likely the credit reporting agency will not budge.
The best thing you can do to up your chances in getting the loan or mortgage is to at least have this comment removed from your report.
You can also try contacting the company that reported the information to the credit bureau and ask them to have it removed. This is especially effective if you have a good relationship with the company, such as if you're a long-time customer in good standing.
If you're not sure how to do this, read on to know more about the step-by-step process of removing the phrase “consumer disputes after resolution” from your credit report.
These steps will walk you through the actions you need to take to get this negative remark removed.
Step-by-Step Instructions: How To Remove “Consumer Disputes After Resolution” + BONUS Step
While it may seem like a hassle to correct and clean up your credit report, this is quite important, especially if you're planning to apply for a loan in the near future.
Addressing these issues immediately prevents you from cramming during the last minute and rushing to get things done when you need to apply for credit.
It also shows lenders that you're proactive about your credit and that you're willing to work hard to improve it.
With that in mind, here are the steps you need to take to remove “consumer disputes after resolution” from your credit report:
Double Check Your Credit Report for the Correct Details
The first thing you need to do is to go over your credit reports again. You need to see whether this comment is only appearing on one report or all three reports.
If it's only appearing on one report, then you need to focus your efforts on that particular credit bureau. You can get a free credit report from AnnualCreditReport.com.
Make sure you highlight and note down the particular item where this comment appears. Having the details ready even before you contact the credit bureau will help speed up the process.
This is because the customer service representative will be able to look into your account more quickly and easily if you already have the information ready. Additionally, you don't want to be scrambling to look for the item in question while you're on the phone with them.
Step 2: Phone the Credit Bureau
After you have all the necessary information, the next step is to give the credit bureau a call. Again, you have to contact the credit bureau that reported the dispute results. So for example, if the comment appears on your Equifax credit report, you have to contact Experian.
While it's also possible to write a letter or email the credit reporting agency, we do not recommend this route as it may take longer for them to get back to you. By calling, you can talk to a customer service representative immediately and try to resolve the issue then and there.
Here are the telephone numbers that you can contact for the three major credit bureaus:
- EXPERIAN Contact Number: 855-414-6148
- EQUIFAX Contact Number: 800-846-5279
- TRANSUNION Contact Number: 800-916-8800
If you're unsuccessful with these numbers, you can visit the website of the credit bureaus or check your credit report if a telephone number is indicated.
When you call, follow the prompts you may encounter and choose the option to speak with a customer service representative.
Once you're speaking with them, this is your opportunity to explain what you want to happen, which we will detail in the next step.
Ask the Customer Service Representative to Remove the Comment from Your Credit Report
Once you're speaking to a customer service representative, explain that you're not calling to dispute any entry, instead, inform them that you're no longer disputing the entry in question and would like for them to remove the comment “consumer disputes after resolution” from your credit report.
Remember, you're not trying to get them to change the status of the disputed item, you're just asking for the comment to be taken out.
You can say something along these lines:
“Hello, my name is _____ and I'm calling about the entry on my credit report that says ‘consumer disputes after resolution.' I am no longer disputing this entry and I would appreciate it if you could remove the comment from my credit report…?”
If the representative asks you for more information, have your credit report on hand and be ready to give them the specific details about where they can find this remark on your credit report.
Be polite and patient as you explain your side. The customer service representative is just doing their job so there's no need to be confrontational or rude. You can be clear about what you want without being demanding or impolite.
Ask the Customer Service Representative for a Timeframe for the Removal
If you're lucky and have spoken with an agent who's receptive to your request, don't hang up the phone just yet.
It's important to ask the customer service representative for a specific timeframe as to when you can expect the comment to be removed from your credit report.
Keep in mind that they may not be able to give you an exact date, but they should at least be able to provide you with a general timeline.
It's also possible that they'll tell you that it will be in process and will take a few days to show up on your credit report.
When this happens, it may be helpful to tell the customer service rep that you're in the process of getting a loan or a mortgage. Tell them that if they can help you expedite the process, this will greatly help your situation.
Check Your Credit Report
Once you have hung up the phone, the next step is to check your credit report again to make sure that the comment has been removed.
It may take a few days or even weeks for it to appear on your credit report so be patient and keep checking back.
If after a reasonable amount of time has passed and you still don't see any change, you can call back and speak to another customer service representative.
It's possible that the first person you spoke with didn't make the appropriate changes to your account or maybe there was some sort of mix-up.
Regardless of the reason, it's important to follow up and make sure that the change has been made on your credit report.
Do THIS to Get “Consumer Disputes After Resolution” Removed from Your Credit Report
While the above steps look quite straightforward, here's the real deal: Not all customer service reps will be willing to remove the comment from your credit report on your first call.
We have read some horror stories from commenters online wherein they are unsuccessful in getting the comment removed even after following all the steps above.
So what can you do then?
Here's a bonus step that may help increase your chances of having the comment removed from your credit report:
The best strategy is to keep on calling! Call again until you find a customer service rep who's willing to help you out.
Nope, we're not kidding. Chances are, the reason the customer service agent declined is that they do not understand your request or are not authorized to do so. This usually happens if you come across a newbie agent who works outside of the US.
When this happens, the best thing to do is just to politely say “thank you” and move on. Then, call back immediately and speak with another customer service agent.
It may sound tedious but it's actually quite common for people to have to call multiple times before finding a customer service agent who's willing to help out.
A customer service rep based in the United States is your best bet because they'll most likely be more familiar with the process of removing a dispute from your credit report and the general process of credit reports.
You can keep on calling until you finally get lucky and speak to a more receptive agent. If after multiple calls, you still come across an agent who's being difficult, be polite and ask to speak with their supervisor.
The key here is to be persistent and not give up. You can remind them that you're not disputing anything anyway – all you're asking is for them to remove the comment from your credit report which should not affect your credit score anyway.
What Is the Benefit of Removing “Consumer Disputes After Resolution” on my Credit Report?
While removing dispute comments from your credit report does not directly impact your credit score, doing so has its benefits. Usually, lenders will take a closer look at your credit report when you're applying for a loan or a mortgage.
If they see that you have filed disputes in the past but they were not resolved in your favor, this could make them think that you're not a responsible borrower. By having these comments cleaned up from your credit report, you can have a higher chance of being approved for the loan or mortgage that you're applying for.
Can I Disagree with Something on my Credit Report Without It Impacting my Credit Score?
A lot of people are scared to file a dispute because they are thinking that it will only lower their credit score. Do disputes lower credit scores? Is it possible to file a dispute without it impacting your credit score?
The answer is yes! You can file a dispute without it impacting your credit score.
Filing a dispute does not lower your credit score as long as you file it through the proper channels and can supply proper evidence to back up your claim.
Your credit score may be impacted if you file a dispute and it turns out that the information on your credit report is accurate after all.
If you file a dispute and it turns out that the information on your credit report is inaccurate, then the item will be removed from your credit report and this will help improve your credit score.
Conclusion: Remove Dispute Comments from Your Credit Report ASAP
If you see a “consumer disputes after resolution” comment on your credit report, don't panic! You can follow the steps above to try and remove it. Remember to be polite and persistent when speaking with customer service agents. Don't give up on the first try – it may take a few calls before you find someone who's willing to help you out. So go ahead and start the process of cleaning up your credit report today!
Aidan has been writing about personal finance for over 6 years. Prior to this, he worked as a Corporate Finance Analyst where he specialized in Due Diligence, Company Valuations and more. He is a CFA charterholder.
